Category Archives: Beer

Northern United Brewing Company Installs Cambrian Innovation’s EcoVolt® Mini

December 20, 2015Beer, Local Business, RecyclingCambrian, Dianna Higgs Stampfler, EcoVolt, EcoVolt Mini, Northern United Brewing Company, Promote MichiganJoanne

By: Dianna Higgs-Stampfler

Cambrian Innovation, provider of distributed water and wastewater solutions for industrial producers, today announced Northern United Brewing Company (NUBC) is the first customer to install Cambrian’s EcoVolt® Mini. The EcoVolt® Mini converts high-strength wastewater into reusable quality water in one simple container designed specifically for growing breweries, wineries, and dairies. Northern United Brewing Company (NUBC), a family-owned Michigan brewery dedicated to making beers of outstanding art and flavor, will use EcoVolt® Mini to scale operations, cut operating costs, and improve its environmental footprint.

NUBC purchased the EcoVolt® Mini to alleviate pressure on the local wastewater treatment plant, allowing both the brewery and the community to grow. The State of Michigan provided a grant to help fund the project. EcoVolt® Mini will remove contaminants and solids from the wastewater while producing up to 11,500 therms of heat per year. The system will eliminate over 65 metric tons of CO2 per year, the equivalent of planting over 50 acres of trees every year. This initial installation will support an expansion of NUBC’s production of more than 40 percent.

“We were stuck between a rock and hard place—we wanted to make more beer to meet growing demand, but our community’s treatment plant capacity was tapped out,” said Northern United Brewing Company CEO and CFO Tony Grant. “With the City’s and State’s help, we are bringing wastewater management in-house with an innovative system from Cambrian. We’re excited to expand our production, and we’re proud to do our part to reduce pressure on the community’s water system.”

EcoVolt Tank Sunset — Photo Courtesy of Cambrian Innovation

Compressing the revolutionary bioelectrically enhanced EcoVolt® Reactor and the EcoVolt® MBR into one, prefabricated module, the EcoVolt®Mini is an all-in-one water reuse container. Designed for food and beverage producers that are generating under 15,000 – 20,000 gallons of wastewater a day, the Mini rapidly removes over 99.9 percent of pollutants and solids from the waste stream, producing reusable water and renewable biogas. The system is designed to be automated, cutting down on operating expenses and saving businesses the headache of dealing with their wastewater.

“This project is the result of a strong collaboration to adopt and implement the right solution not only for NUBC, but also the community,” said Cambrian CEO Matthew Silver. “The EcoVolt® Mini’s compact design brings our EcoVolt® product line to smaller-scale operations that still want the big benefits of advanced wastewater treatment.”

At current levels, the waste stream resulting from the NUBC brewing process uses a significant amount of the industrial capacity in the City of Dexter’s municipal wastewater treatment system, preventing new food, beverage, or agricultural businesses from setting up operations in Dexter. This venture between Cambrian and NUBC, which will knock down barriers to business growth within the region, is funded in part by the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) through the Strategic Growth Initiative Grant Program.

“This project is timely and very important,” stated Dexter Mayor, Shawn Keough. “Capacity constraints have not only capped NUBC’s growth, but they have affected the City’s ability to operate our plant efficiently. The solution developed by Cambrian and Northern United will hopefully free up capacity in our treatment system and reduce our operational challenges. We are excited to see the positive effects of this new technology.”

“We anticipate that this project will be a model that can be deployed across the State of Michigan. There are hundreds of food, beverage, and agricultural producers in Michigan who face the same challenges as NUBC,” said MDARD Agriculture Development Division Director Peter Anastor. “Cambrian’s innovative solution helps food and agriculture businesses grow and relieves pressure on our public infrastructure.”

NUBC’s EcoVolt® Mini is scheduled to be installed during the spring of 2016.

This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!

Socks That Really Sock It To You (In a Very Good Way)

December 17, 2015Beer, Local Business, ReviewsBeer, big cheese, boldly go, boldsocks, lots of socks, mr. mean, sock it to meJoanne

By Victoria Mullen

Sure you’ve had it up to “there” with clever wordplay, but sometimes it can’t be helped. It’s been a really rough morning, and from time to time, cliches have a calming effect. Such is the case today.

Aside from that, did you know there’s a hot, new shop on South Division? It’s called boldSOCKS, and that’s not false advertising. If you’re a man, you’ll be in sock heaven. They have women’s socks, too, but the selection isn’t nearly as large or as bold as the men’s. I have already brought this to the establishment’s attention, and they have assured me that they will get right on it.

The creators of this long-overdue niche store say that the idea was sparked by some good-natured competition between the founders about who wore the coolest socks. It didn’t take long before they came to an impasse because there just weren’t any retailers with the cojones to carry a bold line of socks. The rest is a basement-to-Internet to brick-and-mortar story that warms the cockles of any heart. Other local companies also had humble beginnings in a founder’s basement and they grew to be incredibly profitable, so this thing could be HUGE.

Out of the original competition came the realization that men in conservative work environments need a way to express themselves. I mean, if you have to wear a monkey suit day after day after boring day, I guess you could express individuality with a tie, but even that might be too risky in ultra-conservative places like banks and such. Socks? That’s a whole ‘nother story.

Bold socks enable men in any field of employment and at any income level to rock just about any pattern, any color they like. Yessiree, a man can now control how much personality he feels is appropriate to reveal to the Big Cheese. Cross legs for just a peep of personality. For those particularly awful bosses, one need only refrain from crossing legs, and Mr. Mean is none the wiser.

As an aside, how can anyone live that way? I’m not judging; I honestly wanted to know. After pondering the dilemma for some time, it became clear to me that these socks are saving the world, one man at a time. By allowing some freedom of expression, these socks prevent men from going off the deep end. On a collective level, this is a huge feat. These socks deserve recognition for their contribution to the well-being of all of humanity.

On a more local level, men just want to have fun. Trends include mustache socks, airplane socks, penguin socks, and video game controller socks. If you’re not up to speed on the style of the moment, don’t despair; there’s a blog on the website that dishes on the color of the month, pairing ideas, trending patterns and more. Even the geekiest guy can rock a cool style and people will have absolutely no clue that he’s clueless.

The brick-and-mortar shop at 17 S. Division (near Fulton) has 600 square feet designed to mock an art gallery. Maybe “mock” isn’t the right word. How about “mimic?” No. That doesn’t feel right either. Resemble? Stop in the shop and let us know what you think.

So, guys, if you feel like letting some of your personality quirks peep out in a way that is socially acceptable, check out this shop. There are more than 200 styles and colors from which to choose.

Makes a great gift, by the way.

Still waiting on women’s socks.

Yep.

Waiting…

Michigan-based Northern United Brewing Company Goes International

December 13, 2015Beer, Local BusinessBrewing overseas, Dianna Higgs Stampfler, Korea, North Michigan Beer, Northern United Brewing Company, Playground BreweryJoanne

By: Dianna Higgs-Stampfler

The makers of Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak Beer would like to announce their partnership with Seoul-based brewery, Playground. The craft beer industry in South Korea is just awakening and Playground Brewery is looking to bring variety and change to a country used to light lagers.

NUBC has been working with and training partners, Richard Kim and Soonbong Chun for over a year. Training has taken place in the United States and in South Korea. Master Brewer and NUBC Partner, Mike Hall, is currently in Korea to assist with the final phase of the brewery install.

“We’ve installed a 37BBL system that will allow Playground to brew beers that are currently unavailable in Korea. This is an exciting moment for us and for the burgeoning craft beer movement that is occurring in Korea. Playground expects to have their systems in place and brew their inaugural batch this week.

Playground is focusing all of their talent and energy producing keg beer at this time, to provide the 10 million residents of Seoul locally made, hand craft beer at an affordable price. Continued growth is in the plans, but the primary focus is to brew the highest quality craft beer and be at the forefront of the artisan craft beer industry in Korea. An on-site bistro will accompany the brewery and feature two amazing young chefs from Le Cordon Bleu.

Don’t Pause, Just Play. That’s the mantra Playground Brewery wants to convey, a fun side to overstressed Korean society. All partners are family men who cherish playground moments with their young children. “We remembered the best times we had with our children in photos at the playground,” says Richard Kim, Playground Brewery Founder and Partner. Family values and time spent together on a playground helped derive the brewery’s name.

Playground Brewery is set to have a soft opening December 9th, with an official opening planned for December 19th. Beers scheduled for the opening are The Gentlemen, a Czech Pilsner; The Mistress, a Saison; and The Monk, a Korean IPA. “We are sure we will brew great beers that don’t exist in Korea’s market today. Our Partnership with NUBC enabled us to get here and we see them as more than just a partner,” Soonbong Chun, Playground Brewery Founder and Partner shared as the brewery opening draws near.

The brewery is located in the outskirts of Seoul at Gyeonggi-do, Goyang city,Ilsan seogu, Isanpo-gil 246-11. http://www.playgroundbrewery.com/

Northern United Brewing Company encompasses Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peek Beer Co. craft beer brands, Nomad Cidery, as well as Civilized Spirits and Bonafide Wines. NUBC’s philosophy focuses on a dedication to conservation, inspiration and locally sustainable practices.

This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!

Brewery Vivant Ready to Celebrate Five Years

December 9, 2015Beer, Local Business, Upcoming Events5 year anniversary, Brewery VivantJoanne

December 20 marks the 5th year of Brewery Vivant’s Belgian and French inspired beers brewing in East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Five short years have yielded a number of things to celebrate for this progressive brewery and business. Vivant has become a nationally recognized leader in sustainability efforts, won several regional recognitions & awards, and is launching a large scale sour & wild series of beers.

On top of celebrating the anniversary, Brewery Vivant plans on raising funds for neighborhood elementary schools. The brewery will donate $5,000 back to the neighborhood, serving to impact the technology available to Congress Elementary. The brewery is encouraging neighboring businesses & mutual suppliers to join in the efforts to provide cutting edge technology to kids within the neighborhood. It’s all a part of Brewery Vivant’s business plan ethos of “business as a force for good.”

Now, back to the beer, the brewery will release a wood-aged sour beer Anniversary Ale in its retail shop, a first for the Brewery as the beer will be offered in a 500ml glass bottle.

“We are launching our new sour beer program in glass bottles versus cans as higher CO2 volumes are part of this old-world style of wood aged beer.” Says owner and president, Jason Spaulding, “The bottle provides champagne bottle-like protection from brewing with these wild yeasts.”

Wonderful flavors can also be found in the Vivant kitchen. Voted 2015 Best European Restaurant by Grand Rapids Magazine, the kitchen is taking Belgian and French inspiration to create some creative and delicious dishes. Executive Chef Christopher Weimer leads his team to use the best ingredients to reap the best flavors. This starts with freshness, seasonality, and locality. Vivant is wrapping up the second growing season for the Vivant Garden, a plot of land approximately a mile away from the Pub that provides produce for the ever rotating weekend specials menu.

A new pilot brew system being commissioned, dubbed the “chef’s brewery”, will look to cross over many of these same ingredients & flavors to further explore how beer and food can be created to be natural partners.

The Pub will be open its usual hours from Noon-10pm on Sunday December 20th, pouring exclusive & limited beers, serving extra special & creative dishes, and all the while raising funds for the neighborhood’s elementary school.

“We see our business as vehicle to do good things within our community” says owner & sustainability director Kris Spaulding, “This partnership allows us to be integrated with the neighborhood in a deeper way than merely making beer (which is important too!). We get to make a broader impact on the future of our whole community through investing in our next generation of leaders.”

Founders Set to Release Project PAM

November 18, 2015Beer, Local Business, Upcoming EventsBackstage Release, Black IPA, Founders Brewing, IPA, Project PAMJoanne

Black IPAs have been a staple of an annual tradition at Founders Brewing Co. – the Black Party – a celebration of experimental dark beers. Project PAM was born out of this tradition and is the third Backstage release of 2015; a Black IPA whose hop combinations and malts have been perfected and balanced over several years.

This beer is brewed with a cornucopia of hops including Chinook, Nugget, Centennial, Amarillo, El Dorado and Mosaic, balanced with Crystal and Midnight Wheat malts, then aged in maple-bourbon barrels.

“Project PAM refers to the code name we used in the cellar.” explains the head of the brewery’s barrel-aging program, Jason Heystek. “As with a lot of our barrel-aged beers, each one gets a code name to keep things fun and maintain some mystery. With Project PAM, the maple-bourbon barrels provide sweetness to keep the hop bitterness in check, but also impart the flavor complexity of an oak bourbon barrel.”

Founders’ Backstage Series is made up of boundary-pushing, experimental beers. They are the brewers’ playground. The intent of the series is to take the die-hard Founders fan experience to a wider audience—though all of the beers are released in limited batches.

Since its introduction in the summer of 2011, Founders’ Backstage Series beers have quickly become some of the most sought-after releases in the industry.

Project PAM will be available in 750-ml bottles in our taproom starting on November 20 and across Founders distribution network beginning late November 2015 with a suggested retail price of $14.99.

Pull Aside the Curtain for a Backstage Experience

November 12, 2015Area Education, Beer, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Faces, Local FoodBehind the scenes, Bell's Brewery, Chateau Grand Traverse, Chocolates by Grimaldi, employees only, Grand Hotel, Grand Rapids Symphony, Henderson Castle, Journeyman Distillery, Leelanau Adventures, Long Road Distillery, Marshall Historical Society, Point Betsie lighthouse, St. Julian Winery, West Michigan Beer Tours, West Michigan Tourist AssociationJoanne

Whenever you visit a place, you’re never seeing the full story. There’s always something going on behind an “employees only” door or a little secret that only the well-informed know. Luckily for you, some of the best places to visit in West Michigan have tours to show you everything you need to know. Ever want to see how Bell’s brews their beer? Or how Grimaldi’s chocolates turn out so delicious? Look no further than some of these behind the scenes tours!

South Region

Henderson Castle

The historic Henderson Castle was built in 1895 and is one of Kalamazoo’s most treasured landmarks. Today, they welcome visitors to come explore the castle in its entirety with their VIP Legacy Tour package. With this package, you can explore all floors of the castle from their basement kitchen to their rooftop deck and everything in between. Places that guests typically don’t see such as the vineyards and wine cave are also shown. If you want to get the most out of your trip to Henderson Castle, look no further than this extensive tour package!

Journeyman Distillery

Journeyman Distillery offers tours every day! The distillery is located in an 1800s factory building and has retained much of the original and historic architecture. Tours last approximately one hour and include the history of the distillery, a tour of the production facility, and an overview on how their spirits are produced. Of course, the tour concludes with a tasting of some of Journeyman’s finest spirits!

West Michigan Beer Tours

Why just tour one brewery when you can tour three? West Michigan Beer Tours offers variety of public tours with most including stops at three breweries to sample, tour, and meet the owners or brewers. Your tour director is knowledgeable in both the beer industry and the local area so you know that you’re getting a great tour. You’ll travel comfortably from brewery to brewery on their mini-coach bus. West Michigan Beer Tours is one of the best ways to see the behind of the scenes of local breweries!

Bell’s Brewery

Bell’s Brewery was a significantly different kind of brewery 30 years ago. It had one employee, Larry Bell, who worked out of plastic garbage bags and a 15-gallon stock pot. Today, Bell’s employs more the 400 people over 22 states and has their original brewery still in Downtown Kalamazoo. They offer free tours there on Saturdays and Sundays for those looking to see what goes into making their beer. Their Comstock brewery offers self guided tours where the public is welcome to observe the large area at their own leisure.

St. Julian Winery

St. Julian Winery’s Paw Paw location offers free year-round tours! Tours run seven days a week and all ages are welcome. After your tour, don’t miss their standard tasting of six samples of your choice and a complimentary logo glass which is yours to take home. Choose from over 40 products including wines that are exclusive to their tasting rooms, their Grey Heron Vodka, and their A&G Brandy. If you want even more, their Enhanced Tasting & Tour is reservation only and more than just your average experience! This is an extended tour and includes your choices of cheese or chocolate pairs. Their wine educators offer an in-depth education on the winemaking process from bud-break to bottling!

Marshall Historical Society

Don’t miss the longest running home tour in the Great Lakes area with Marshall Historical Society‘s Historic Home Tour! Private residences, commercial buildings, museums, and fairground buildings are given the tour treatment. The public is always invited to come see some of these amazing and unique places. Want to learn more about the architecture or the history behind of some of Marshall’s most famous buildings? Then take a day or two to explore and learn from one of the most trusted sources on Marshall’s past. Keep an eye out for 2016 dates!

Central Region

Grand Rapids Symphony

Have you ever wanted to see what goes into producing a symphony? The Grand Rapids Symphony offers both backstage tours as well as musician meet-and-greets to educate the public on their exciting work. With their new program, Backstage and Behind the Music, each session corresponds to one of the symphony’s concerts and gives guests the opportunity to see the entire process. For adults ages 21 to 35, there is the MySymphony360 program which includes discounted tickets, best available sating, exclusive backstage access, and musical meet-and-greets.

Long Road Distillery

Long Road Distillery takes great pride in their signature whiskies, vodkas, and gins. To show how much work goes into these creations, they invite you to tour their distillery. Led by one of their distillers or owners, tours take visitors through the entire distilling process, its principles, and where the ingredients come from. Questions are encouraged so don’t hesitate to ask your knowledgeable tour guide. You might even get to sample a spirit or two when you’re done!

Chocolates by Grimaldi

The factory tour at Chocolates by Grimaldi is the perfect way to learn about the process of making chocolate. See everything from the pod, to the bean, to the chocolate that you can eat! Taste fresh samples right off the line and see the production area for yourself. Check out their 1950s enrober that is just like the one from I Love Lucy. Schedule your tour today to see how Grand Haven gets their unique chocolates!

North Region

Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel’s new stable is a great way to not only see the horses up close, but to also tour the island. Group carriage tours around Mackinac Island are perfect to learn about the area. These narrated tours start in downtown and stop at many points of interest along the way. The Grand Hotel’s concierge desk will help you personalize your route and even point out places on the island that are unseen by many. With an endless possibility of routes, adventure awaits you on Mackinac Island!

Chateau Grand Traverse

The tasting room at Chateau Grand Traverse invites you to check out their award-winning wines and enjoy their breathtaking views! Complimentary tours of the facilities are offered along with an overview of the history of the Northern Michigan wine industry. Your guide will teach you about the winemaking process from harvest to bottling. Don’t miss the chance to check out Chateau Grand Traverse’s wine making process and the amazing view that brought them there over 40 years ago.

Leelanau Adventures

Leelanau Adventures offers awesome guided tours and overnight stays at various locations. Have you ever wanted to experience Sleeping Bear Dunes or Manitou Island with a tour guide that will show you the best kept secrets? Look no further! You can choose between guided backpacking day trips or overnight stays with everything you need provided to you. Learn what it takes to survive in one of West Michigan’s most treasured locales. Trips run from June to September so check back next year to book your adventure!

Point Betsie Lighthouse

Marking the southern entrance to the Manitou Passage, Point Betsie Lighthouse stands as one of Benzie County’s most famous landmarks. The lighthouse was built in 1857 and had significant restoration work done in 2006. Their tours give the public the chance to see the lighthouse up close and personal. You can even climb the tower! Tours run from May until October so make sure to check it out when they reopen it next year.

Get into the Spirits During Cocktail Week GR Nov. 11-22

November 9, 2015Beer, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Local Food, Our Cities, Upcoming Eventscocktail culture, cocktail week, cocktails, spiritsJoanne

Sip local! Join the fun as Michigan’s creative beverage capital celebrates the art of the craft cocktail.

The first-ever Cocktail Week GR toasts Michigan craft spirits from Nov. 11-22 with participating local restaurants offering two Michigan cocktails and a shared-plate appetizer for $25 or less. Also available are menu items paired with Michigan-distilled spirits.

“Cocktail culture has exploded right alongside beer enthusiasm here in Grand Rapids,” said Doug Small, President and CEO of Experience Grand Rapids. “Our area’s leading bartenders are using locally made artisanal spirits to enhance classic drinks and invent new ones. We are excited to celebrate this enthusiasm with the inaugural Cocktail Week GR.”

Get into the spirits (see what happened there?) with:

Pair and Share. Get two Michigan cocktails plus a shared-plate appetizer for $25 or less at participating bars and restaurants.

Daring Duos Dinners. Dine at local eateries pairing handcrafted distilled spirits with scrumptious local dishes.

Intoxicating Extras. Developed in collaboration with the Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild, stay tuned for a full schedule of cocktail events.

Developed in collaboration with the Grand Rapids Cocktail Guild, Experience Grand Rapids Cocktail Week GR coincides with additional celebrations of spirits at the annual Wine, Beer and Food Festival, taking place at DeVos Place Convention Center, November 19-22.

Cocktail Week GR events and happenings are updated regularly here. Participating restaurants and menus will be posted on November 4th with continued updates through Cocktail Week.

Halloween Fun in West Michigan: South Michigan

October 21, 2015Beer, Local Business, Local Entertainment, Recreation, Travel, Upcoming EventsColdwater Country, Cornwells Turkeyville, Crane Orchards & U-Pick, FireKeepers Casino hotel, Franke Center for the Arts, Gilmore Car Museum Spooktacular, Henderson Castle, Journeyman Distillery, Michigan Maritime Museum, South Haven, Stokes Homestead Farm Market, The Inn at Harbor Shores, West Michigan, West Michigan Beer ToursJoanne

There is so much to do in West Michigan to kick off the Halloween fun! This three part series will dive into different Fall and Halloween activities all throughout the West side of this Marvelous State. Part one and Southern Michigan comes down as the first leaf to hit the ground.

As Halloween approaches, all the little ghouls and goblins have one thing on their minds: Trick-or-Treating! To keep the kids’ minds off candy just a bit longer, kick off your Halloween fun early in West Michigan! Whether it’s family fun at the corn maze, or Halloween-themed pub crawls for the grown up ghouls, there are plenty of Halloween activities for all ages around West Michigan to get you in a Halloween mood!

South Michigan Halloween Fun

Stokes Homestead Farm Market

Stokes Homestead Farm Market in Grand Junction is kicking off fall fun this season with their Shadow Hollow Haunt, a one-of-a-kind haunted trail, that will run every weekend in October! They’ll be throwing in some new twists, turns and scares this year. Check out all the details at stokeshomestead.com.

Cornwell’s Turkeyville

Cornwell’s Turkeyville in Marshall is preparing for their family friendly Fall season of fun, frights, and memories. Every weekend in October, Cornwell’s holds their family friendly “Haunted Adventures,” open from 12pm-8pm on Saturday’s and 12pm-5pm on Sundays. Some of the activities include a pumpkin patch, spooky hay ride, and Haunted Barn. Each year the owners alter the theme of the Haunted Barn to explore all of the aspects Halloween has to offer.

This year’s theme is reminiscent of the things that caused your imaginary night time fear of monsters: shadows! All of the walls have spooky shadows thrown across them; but participants be warned, there are things lurking in the shadows, so prepare to be spooked. The haunts found in the barn are appropriate for even young children, and employees willing to help out the most scared of kids. Wristbands last all day and include all activities. The cost for a wristband is ten dollars per person – excluding babes in arms. Cornwell’s Dinner Theatre will be performing Abra Cadaver, an interactive murder mystery, on October 30 and 31 for more spooky, entertaining, & delicious Halloween fun!

Franke Center for the Arts

Plan to visit the Franke Center for the Arts in Marshall on Saturday, October 24th at 8pm for a performance by Mind Reader & Illusionist Christopher Carter. Carter is recognized as one of the world’s greatest “mind-readers,” but he’s not psychic. He’s just an incredibly skilled observer of human behavior.

Starting at the age of eight, when an uncle allowed him to sit in on a poker game, Christopher began to realize that people broadcast their thoughts in ways beyond words. This led to a lifelong interest in non-verbal communication and ‘people reading.’ Although he pursued dual interests in psychology and theater in college, it wasn’t until he was doing graduate work that Chris finally put it all together: he blended his fast-paced, humorous theatrical style with stunning displays of psychological ability. The ovations and accolades have been coming ever since.

As an entertainer, Christopher has earned feature appearances on “The Martin Short Show” and the “Donny and Marie Show.” As one of the most popular performers on college campuses, he has been awarded the highest honor in the Campus Activities industry: Entertainer of the Year. Tickets for the show are $20 in advance and $22 at the door.

West Michigan Beer Tours

Get in the Halloween mood with West Michigan Beer Tours and their spooky tour featuring a brewery with a haunt, and of course, some great fall seasonal beers. Be prepared for a night of frights, flights and fun.

The Halloween tour will begin at Shakespeare’s Pub in downtown Kalamazoo where pumpkin ales, hard ciders, and other autumn classics will be on tap. The group will then make the short jaunt west to Paw Paw Brewing Co. where the crew will get you in the spirit of the season with fall ales and perhaps a few scary surprises.

From there, you’ll make way to Psycho Ward & Nightmares, one of Kalamazoo’s best haunted attractions tucked into the woods behind the Kalamazoo Speedway. Enjoy steeply discounted prices and VIP access to the freak fest. You’ll then conclude with a quick ride north to Plainwell’s Old Mill Brewpub. Owner and brewmaster Scott Zylstra plans to serve some of his first beers and offer a tour of the more than 100-year-old building known to be inhabited by a few ghosts. The Halloween Beer Tour takes place on October 30th and lasts for five hours. Book your spot directly through West Michigan Beer Tours.

Journeyman Distillery

Journeyman Distillery will be hosting the Three Oaks Pub Crawl on Halloween (October 31st) from 2-10. Tour the town’s drinking establishments and compete for a chance to win coveted Pub Crawl t-shirts. Costumes are encouraged and the best ones will be rewarded. Watch out for the spirits this Halloween!

Henderson Castle

Prepare for an evening of intrigue, lies, and deception at Henderson Castle in Kalamazoo as you try to unravel all the clues and solve a case of murder. All this while socializing with the cremé de la cremé of this city’s high society, friends, loved ones.

During the dinner, you get to know everyone, share what you know and find out what you can… you will need this to establish a motive… for murder. Who knows, you may be the murderer and not know it! The October Murder Mystery Dinner takes place the night before Halloween, on October 30th at Henderson Castle. The cost is $69 per person.

Michigan Maritime Museum

The Michigan Maritime Museum will host a free trick-or-treating event at the Museum for children ages toddler to 10 years on October 31st from 4pm-6pm. The event will have trick-or-treating stations around the Museum campus and aboard tall ship Friends Good Will. Children must be in costume to participate. Bring out the whole family! All children must be accompanied by an adult for this event.

FireKeepers Casino Hotel

Join FireKeepers Casino Hotel this Halloween for a weekend of fun and entertainment, including the annual Halloween Costume Contest, Here Come the Mummies Concert, and Halloween Slot Tournament!

The festivities start Friday, October 30th with the Halloween costume contest at 7pm on the casino floor. All those interested in participating in the costume contest will need to join the parade line beginning at 7pm. At 7:45pm the Top 10 will be announced and asked to come to the Money Keepers Mainstage for the next round of judging, where the top 3 will be selected for audience voting. All of the top 10 costume participates will receive a prize.

The 1st place winner will walk away with a cash and Red Hot Credit prize of $5,000! Continue the Halloween excitement with Here Come the Mummies. The concert will begin at 9pm in the event center and ticket are just $25. The Halloween Slot Tournament will begin at 10am on October 31st. To qualify, simply earn 31 points on your Red Hot Rewards Club Card starting at 9am on October 31st. The tournament will run from 10am-3pm with the top 4 from each hour advancing to the final. The top 20 finalist will share a total prize pool of over $40,000 in prizes, with the 1st place winner receiving $20,000 cash!

The Inn at Harbor Shores

The Inn at Harbor Shores in St. Joseph invites you to celebrate this Halloween with them in a variety of ways! Visit the weekend of Halloween for Happy Halloweekend at The Inn, which will incorporate a series of frightening events for all ages, beginning with pumpkin carving and ending with a costume bash to end all others!

On Wednesday, October 28th, the local library will present Scary Stories, and Artist Pumpkin Carving Begins. Vote for your favorite pumpkin in person or on The Inn at Harbor Shores’ social media. On Halloween, the pumpkin carving winners will be announced, and the Costume Ball will kick off at 8pm! Enjoy dancing, a DJ, snacks, a cash bar, and prizes for the best costume! Tickets are $20, or can be included in your overnight stay package.

Crane Orchards & U-Pick

Crane Orchards & U-Pick in Fennville offers a 20-acre Corn Maze through October 30th. A lot of creative energy goes into this project every year to make it the best corn maze anywhere! Adults are $7, Ages 6 years to 10 years are $5, and kids 5 years old and below are free! This is a family friendly corn maze, and be sure to catch a hayride or Cowtrain ride while you’re there!

South Haven

If you’re in the South Haven area on Halloween, dress up, come out and join all the witches, goblins, vampires, superheroes, princesses, skeletons, and all the scariest costume in between for a fun filled candy gathering extravaganza! South Haven Trick-or-Treating will take place from 5:30pm-7:30pm on Halloween. Be sure to have a big container to hold all your candy, and don’t forget the three magic words: “Trick-or-Treat!”

Coldwater Country

Celebrate Halloween in Coldwater Country with costumes, scares, and a parade! Adventure out for a spook-tacular time in the Haunted Forest at Rotary Park in Coldwater on October 29th. The younger crowd will enjoy the less scary time from 6pm-7pm for the true Haunted Forest, scare time is 7pm-9pm. Don’t miss out on the Haunted Halloween Parade on October 31st! The theme changes every year, and you’ll see entries from organizations, businesses, and individuals.

Gilmore Car Museum Spooktacular

The 4th Annual Gilmore Car Museum Spooktacular will take place at the Museum on Thursday, October 29th from 4:00-7:00pm! Fun for the whole family, the Spooktacular will feature cool cars throughout the Museum, trick-or-treat throughout the galleries for children 12 and under, a featured film in the theater, and special treats and samples from local businesses! Costumes are encouraged! Kids 12 and under are FREE – Adults $5.00/person (children must be accompanied by an adult at all times).

Make sure to check out part 2 on Thursday for Halloween activities in Central West Michigan!

Brewery Vivant’s 5th Annual Wood-Aged Beer Fest: A Beer Lover’s Paradise

September 1, 2015Beer, Local Business, Local FacesBrewery Vivant, Wood Aged Beer FestJoanne

Brewery Vivant celebrates the art and science of barrel-aging beer with its 5th Annual Wood-Aged Beer Festival (WABF) Saturday, September 19th in the parking lot behind the Brewery. Vivant will hold two tasting sessions: Afternoon (1-4p) and Evening (5-8p) to allow for more people to enjoy over 20 limited, rare, and exclusive beers in an intimate beer-centric environment.

The Vivant scratch-kitchen will have festival foods available should hunger arise. Tickets are $35 and include 10 tokens, a collector’s edition tasting glass, and access to some incredible beer. Limited tickets available online at www.breweryvivant.com or directly through wabf15.brownpapertickets.com.

Fittingly, this will be the “Wooden anniversary” (as per Victorian tradition) of WABF at Brewery Vivant as they celebrate their 5th festival and 5th year in business in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Opening the festival up for two identical sessions will give more beer drinkers a chance to enjoy all that the festival has to offer, particularly more beer tasting. “We’re hoping with more tokens in your glass from the start, less people on the grounds at once, and a map to guide you, this year’s festival will be the best one yet,” says Kate Avery, Abbess of Beer and Director of Sales & Marketing, “The brewers have been plotting for this unveiling since last November. It’s their big party with big flavors. We’re glad to share it with more enthusiasts by offering two sessions this year.”

Wood-aging beers harkens back to the earliest beer brewing traditions when vessels were all made of wood and brewers worked to blend flavors into drinkable liquid. Unique flavor profiles arise in the already flavor-forward craft beers when aged in wood. Brewery Vivant will be hauling out old favorites from the vault, as well as new never-before-tasted experiments. Love Shadow, the bourbon barrel-aged Imperial stout makes a triumphant return to tap handles, as well as a cellared Wizard Burial Ground (2014 vintage bourbon barrel-aged quadruple).

Get your tickets early as this event is the highlight of the Fall beer season and will sell out. The Pub will be open for business as usual on Saturday, 11am-midnight. The festival grounds are separate.

About Brewery Vivant

The brewery is located in the East Hills neighborhood of Grand Rapids, in a renovated funeral chapel built in the early 1900’s. Their staff of around 50 employees specialize in Belgian/French inspired beers and fare in a completely unique setting. Husband and wife partners Jason and Kris Spaulding opened the doors for business in December of 2010. They are the first commercial brewery in the nation to receive Silver LEED Certification from the USGBC. Additionally they are 100% renewable powered, a silver-level Bicycle Friendly Business, and are a certified B Corporation. Beer the Change®!

Best of the Breweries in West Michigan: Northern Michigan

August 28, 2015Beer, Local BusinessBeer, Craft Beer, Michigan Beer, Northern MichiganJoanne

This three part series will go over the different breweries throughout West Michigan. Part three ventures forth and takes us to Northern Michigan. Try out all the breweries and see why West Michigan is the beer capital of the United States! Be sure to check out parts one and two on Southern and Central Michigan.

The market for craft beer has been steadily increasing for well over a decade, and West Michigan is home to a plethora of fantastic breweries and each has a unique lineup of their signature craft beers. Having beer brewed so close to home gives West Michigan the luxury of drinking fresh and local.

So what is craft beer? According to the Brewers Association, craft beer is three things: small, independent, and local. These breweries are small in the sense that they make less than 6 million barrels of beer annually. They are independent if less than 25 percent of the company is owned by an alcohol industry member that is not a craft brewer and traditional if the majority of total beverage alcohol volume in the brews are traditional or innovative ingredients or fermentation methods.

What does West Michigan have to offer? Craft beer is brewed all over West Michigan. Make sure to check out one or all of these great breweries on the north end of town!

Northern Michigan Breweries

Brewery Terra Firma

Brewery Terra Firma, is located on the historic 10-acre Dracka Farm just south of the Grand Traverse Mall. Brewmaster John Niedermaier grows most of the hops, herbs, fruits, vegetables, and honey that flavor his beers and ales.

Fun Fact: Brewery Terra Firma was Traverse City’s first “farm-to-mug” brewery when it opened in May of 2013.

Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery & Distillery

Jolly Pumpkin Restaurant, Brewery & Distillery combines a brewery and small batch distillery to produce most of beers and all of the spirits served on premise. They are located on historic Old Mission Peninsula’s West Bay in a 19th century mansion.

Fun Fact: Don’t miss the artisan pizzas, unique sandwiches, house smoked ribs, and local fish at the restaurant when you visit this brewery/distillery combination!

Short’s Brewing Company

Short’s Brewing Company is located near Shanty Creek Resorts in the village of Bellaire. Short’s has some of the most imaginative and adventurous brews on the market, from down-to-earth brews like Locals Light and Bellaire Brown to the intensely hopped Huma Lupa Licious.

Fun Fact: Short’s Brewing Company prides themselves on being a Michigan Only brewery distributing only in Michigan to ensure their investment in their local community!

The Lake Charlevoix Brewing Company

Lake Charlevoix Brewing Company brews 8 flagship beers, with names hailing from iconic Northern Michigan sights, using the best water in the world from the Great Lakes. They also brew several seasonal and experimental beers for their guests to enjoy.

Fun Fact: The brewery is located in the former storage area for the 180 foot US Coast Guard vessel named the Acacia.

Stormcloud Brewing Company

Stormcloud Brewing Company is a northern Michigan brewery crafting Belgian inspired beer and locally inspired food. They are located only two blocks from Lake Michigan in downtown Frankfort.

Fun Fact: Stormcloud Brewing Co. loves giving back to the community! Every month during the summer season and quarterly thereafter, they select one charitable organization that they believe is making a difference in northern Michigan to share its message with their Stormcloud network.

Michigan BrewVine

The Michigan BrewVine Passport is the best way to experience local wineries and breweries in Northern Michigan. 9&10 News and local businesses have teamed up to create this amazing passport that is full of deals. Each passport is valid for ONE person and costs just $25. This passport will give you access to 17 wineries and 16 breweries, each one offering unique deals and discounts.

Fun Fact: The Michigan BrewVine Passport is valid for the entire year so that you can relax and enjoy each location at your own pace.

Best of the Breweries in West Michigan: Central Michigan

August 26, 2015Beer, Local BusinessBeer, Breweries, Central Michigan Breweries, Grand Rapids BeerJoanne

This three part series will go over the different breweries throughout West Michigan. Part two takes us through Central Michigan. Try out all the breweries and see why West Michigan is the beer capital of the United States! If you missed part one, you can check it out here.

What does West Michigan have to offer? Craft beer is brewed all over West Michigan. Make sure to check out one or all of these great breweries near and around Grand Rapids!

Central Michigan Breweries

Founders Brewing Company

Founders Brewing Company has built its brewery on the exploration of recipe development and brewing techniques. Carving a niche out of the craft industry, they have built their reputation on producing very unique beer and have been recognized by beer enthusiasts around the world.

Fun Fact: Founders has won six World Beer Cup medals, four European Beer Star medals, and three Great American Beer Festival medals across eight different beers.

Brewery Vivant

Brewery Vivant is a fantastic East Hills Neighborhood microbrewery and pub located in a sustainably renovated historical chapel. They combine their passion for great beer and food, environmental sustainability, service, and a focus on community.

Fun Fact: Much of the inspiration behind Brewery Vivant comes from the small breweries that dot the countryside in Southern Belgium and Northern France.

Cellar Brewing Company

Cellar Brewing Company is a Microbrewery, Winery and Distillery located in Sparta MI and provide their guests with a relaxed casual atmosphere. They have 16 beers on tap and always keep them filled for your consumption!

Fun Fact: Cellar Brewing Company’s Mug Club program gets your great discounts and you even get to drink out of your own mug every time you go in! Mugs are personalized with your name and number!

Perrin Brewing Company

Located in a small farming community just 10 miles north of downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, Perrin Brewing Company isa microbrewery and taproom which strives to bring a world class experience to every person who walks through their doors.

Fun Fact: Perrin does a Yoga + Beer summer series! $5 at the door gets you one hour of yoga and a beer!

Rockford Brewing Company

Rockford Brewing Company produces world class beers using traditional and innovative brewing techniques and ingredients. They strive to create unique beers with influences from countries around the world including the newest emerging craft beer location that has the world watching; Michigan.

Fun Fact: Rockford Brewing Co.’s flagship beer is Paradigm MPA, which is a Michigan Pale Ale produced with 100% Michigan grown ingredients!

New Holland Brewing Company

New Holland Brewing Company’s deep roots in the craft industry go all the way back to 1997. Their beer and spirits are served alongside fresh-made food in their Restaurant & Pub in downtown Holland. Their beer-centric food menu complements all of their beers!

Fun Fact: Many of New Holland’s draught only specialties are brewed on their nine barrel pub system!

Grand Rapids Brewing Company

The beer Grand Rapids Brewing Company produces includes a recreation of the iconic Silver Foam, along with several other beers brewed to honor their Grand Rapids heritage, leaders, landmarks as well as their Grand Rapids Brewing Company family.

Fun Fact: Grand Rapids Brewing Co. is Michigan’s only USDA certified organic brewery.

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery & Supply

Gravel Bottom Craft Brewery & Supply was established in 2013 in Ada, Michigan. They have crossed the country with stacks of recipes kept in journals, sketched business plans on scrap paper, and enjoyed their evolving product along the way.

Fun Fact: Gravel Bottom offers a huge selection of the freshest brewing supplies and classes for every level. They’ll help you get started on your own brewing adventure!

Our Brewing Company

Our Brewing Company is a quaint craft brewery in Downtown Holland. They pride themselves on small batches, mad scientists, and neighbors on every stool. They’re always coming up with new and different beers like their Pickle Tickle Smash IPA and Pecan Pie Porter.

Fun Fact: Our Brewing Co. will have awesome live music the month of August including The Whiskey Charmers, Matt Plessner, Big Brother Jon, and Brotha James and they’re all free to attend!

Jamesport Brewing Co.

Jamesport is brewpub that brews their own beer onsite, as well as having a full-service bar, a great wine list and an assortment of domestic beers. Their full dining menu includes appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches & burgers, lunch entrees, desserts, wraps, dinner entrees, pasta, a kids menu, and both hot & cold drinks.

Fun Fact: Hoppy Hour at Jamesport Brewing Co. is Monday-Friday, 4pm-6pm.

Old Boys’ Brewhouse

Located on the Shore of Spring Lake, Michigan, Old Boys’ Brewhouse was founded in 1997 with a commitment to their community, fresh beer, and fresh food. Whether you drop in for refreshment or nourishment or both, their fantastic staff will make sure to make your experience fun and enjoyable.

Fun Fact: Old Boys’ Brewhouse has a canine-oriented theme to the influence and memory of a Chocolate Labrador!

Best of the Breweries in West Michigan: Southern Michigan

August 25, 2015Beer, Local BusinessBreweries, Craft Beer, Southern Michigan Beer, West MichiganJoanne

This three part series will go over the different breweries throughout West Michigan. Part one takes us through Southern Michigan. Try out all the breweries and see why West Michigan is the beer capital of the United States!

What does West Michigan have to offer? Craft beer is brewed all over West Michigan. Make sure to check out one or all of these great breweries on the south side!

Southern Michigan Breweries

Saugatuck Brewing Co.

Saugatuck Brewing Co. is dedicated to the entire experience of craft; from their creative food menu to their unique beers. The adventure started with creating a perfect beer, and they have kept that focus since their opening in 2005 with 15 rotating taps plus hard cider and a variety of wines.

Fun Fact: Saugatuck Brewing Co. is the only microbrewery in the state of Michigan to feature a Brew On Premise System where you can go brew your own beer in about four hours! Return in two to three weeks to bottle and sample your own beer!

Round Barn Brewery

With more than 30 years of fermentation experience and an award-winning reputation in the industry, Round Barn Brewery’s line of hand-crafted brews embody the satisfying bold taste you’ve come to expect from The Round Barn.

Fun Fact: In addition to being a brewery, Round Barn also has their own winery and distillery!

Dark Horse Brewing Company

Dark Horse Brewing Company is located in Marshall, Michigan and takes pride in serving great food and great beer using only the highest quality ingredients. All of their breads is made fresh locally, utilizing their own spent grain.

Fun Fact: Dark Horse Brewing Co. has a wicked sense of humor! Don’t forget to look around the pub, read the six-pack and holder your beers come in, and even the back of your growler!

Bell’s Brewery

Bell’s Brewery began in 1985 with a quest for better beer and a 15 gallon soup kettle. They currently brew over 20 beers for distribution as well as many other small batch beers that are served at their pub, the Eccentric Cafe in downtown Kalamazoo.

Fun Fact: On June 11, 1993, Bell’s Brewery became the first Michigan brewery to serve beer by the glass to the public.

Boatyard Brewing Company

Boatyard Brewing Company is on a journey to create superb craft beers through the exploration of artistic fermentations while also making a positive impact on their community!

Fun Fact: Boatyard Brewing Company has discount nights for those who come in on two wheels! Come in Tuesdays on your motorcycle or Wednesdays on pedal bicycles to get your discount! Founders Dan and Brian have spent countless hours developing some of the best traditional ale recipes, as well as their own unique offerings!

Beerfest at the Ballpark Fall – On The Field

Beerfest at the Ballpark is scheduled for Saturday, September 19th at Cooley Law School Stadium. Festival gates will be open from 5pm-10pm with a special VIP entry starting at 4pm. The fall festival will be held on the Jackson Field and will provide attendees the opportunity to taste more than 200 craft beers, and ciders from over 50 Michigan Breweries while enjoying the ballpark’s atmosphere. The fall event will also include 50 different German and Belgian beers. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door and include entry, a logoed tasting glass, and 10 tasting tickets. Special VIP Tickets may be purchased for $40 in advance and include early entry to the festival at 4pm, a logoed tasting glass, and 15 tasting tickets.

Fun Fact: The fall event will also include 50 of the best German and Belgian beers so you do not want to miss this great festival!